THE WAY TO TRIUMPH
LUKE 19:28-48
Triumph means celebrating victory. It also means overcoming challenges. Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem triumphantly knowing that the set time to save and redeem man has come. This is love in reality. He knew about His crucifixion and death, yet He must need to enter such painful and shameful journey in a glorious manner. He was the sacrifice in the midst of His slaughter – what a loving savior we have in Christ Jesus. There are keys to secure our triumph through Christ anytime;
TOTAL SUBMISSION: Luke 19:30-34
We cannot have total triumph until we submit ourselves wholly to God. When Jesus sent His disciples to go get the donkey for Him, He told them what to respond to anybody that claims the ownership; “The Lord is in need of it” – this informs us that there is the Lord of Lords. The owner of everything – Psalm 24 confirms this, ‘the earth belongs to God and the fullness thereof, even those that are in it’. Every property we own, answers to the Lord of lords first. The sure way to triumph requires total submission to the will/need of God.
COMPLETE OBEDIENCE: Luke 19: 30-34
Jesus Christ sent them out of the village to get a donkey, it was a test for the disciples – I believe that donkeys were in that village but He tried their obedience. Many times, God tries our obedience with little and great things to see our reactions to Him. Note that the donkey was addressed as ‘him’ for a purpose. It represents the deliverance of man from the bondage – speaking about the work on the cross of Christ. Crossing borders signifies that we are sent to reach out to souls beyond the confines of our zones (comfort zones). They were not just sent to cross border but they were sent to fetch an unused donkey; yet to be used donkey – untrained donkey. This was the major challenge, to travel long distance across with a donkey that wasn’t trained for use. Many people like finished products and never want to go through the process of making. God wants us to go beyond those prepared vessels and pick/identity the other people with gifts then fashion them with patience and love till they become a people of purpose. To some, it could be the sinner – the rejected, yet if he is won in the God’s kingdom, can fulfill a special purpose.
PRAISE GOD AGAINST ALL ODDS: Luke 19:37-40
Giving God unconditional praise is very important in securing our triumph. Jesus Christ entered into Jerusalem to be tried and crucified in the manner of praise. He didn’t enter as the usual Jesus Christ who wouldn’t want noise about His works and presence. His entrance commanded a red carpet reception from the multitudes that were around Him. When the myopic Pharisees, Chief Priests requested that He should tell the people to lessen the praise, He quickly said that even the stones are waiting for such opportunity to begin the praises (paraphrased). God expects to see praises rising from our hearts in all situations of life. It attracts the attention of God to us.
THE KEY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: Luke 19:41-44
Righteousness is paramount in our journey to remain victorious as Christians. As Jesus Christ approached Jerusalem, He saw the atrocities in the land particularly from the temple (church), He wept loudly. The church that was to encourage Him and become sensitive to the happenings of the day were a “den of thieves”. A den here is a hideout – a hideout of thieves and sinners who were religious. The church was to be a house of prayer – Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11, Luke 19:46. Jesus Christ being the celebrant could not continue in the jubilation because He began to feel sharp pain of sin in His heart due to the pollution of sin in the land. By revelation, Jesus saw that the spiritual Babylon has built a strong hold in the temple – they were buying, selling and exchanges going on – this is the same as it is written in Revelation 18:11, 24 –“And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore,” And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth”.
We also see that this evil spiritual kingdom called Babylon has two major branches – revelation 11:8 – ‘ And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”
Unfortunately, there are still many members of the church who are not ready for the second coming of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – the church is the place that must point people to the cross and this was the expectation of Jesus Christ but He was disappointed. May God not be disappointed in you. The Christian man is already marked for triumph through Christ’s victory on the cross
